March 6, 2009
Catholic campus minister appointed, on the job at UE
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
Michael D. Roesch, a native of Mount Vernon, Ill., is the new Catholic campus minister at the University of Evansville. He began work in late February, and is currently on the spring mission trip with UE students at Nazareth Farm, W.Va.
“Mike is the perfect fit for the Newman Center serving the University of Evansville,” said Steve Dabrowski, diocesan di-rector of youth and young adult ministry. “He brings a second-to-none educational background that will serve him well as he reaches out to students, faculty and staff, and he will certainly be able to assess the needs of these diverse groups as he creates engaging programs that will allow each to grow closer in their relationship with Jesus Christ.”
Roesch is one of three Catholic campus ministers, joining Chris Hoehn at the University of Southern Indiana and Ron Campbell at Vincennes University.
“As someone just completing graduate school in theology,” Roesch said, he was “very ex-cited to see your opening for a campus minister on the diocesan website. I believe that my background in theology, coupled with strong communication skills evidenced by my office experience, make me an exceptional candidate.”
Roesch graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2005 with a degree in theology and political science, and recently received his Master of Theological Studies degree at the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family.
“My studies at Notre Dame and the Institute have focused on viewing all of theology through the lens of liturgy as the first place of our encounter with God,” Roesch said in his letter to the selection committee. “This model of liturgy as the primary expression of our Faith and the source from which doctrine, service, and personal piety flow would be integral to my model of campus ministry.”
He said the “key element for campus ministry is common worship, and this finds its fulfillment in the Mass, as well as in the Liturgy of the Hours, the official prayer of the Church,” and that he also believes it is important to have a strong academic component.
“Discussion groups, book clubs, and Bible studies can both supplement students’ experiences in classes and integrate their academic experience with Catholic Christian values,” he said.
Roesch’s experience includes work as a government affairs intern for the National Right to Work Committee, and as a legislative intern in the office of U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald. His volunteer experience in-cludes helping to organize a pro-life literature drop for a Maryland congressional primary race in 2008, and teaching confirmation preparation classes in his parish.
According to his resumé, his academic pursuit included study of Pope John Paul’s “The-ology of the Body,” and he has a basic reading knowledge of Spanish.
Roesch has met with student leaders at UE, and was able to attend the Source and Summit Retreat last weekend in Evansville.
He was the top candidate from a field of 20, selected by a committee that included Steve Dabrowski, Father Tony Ernst, Father Chris Forler and Benedictine Father Gregory Cham-berlin, Chris Hoehn from USI campus ministry, UE students Amy Hagedorn and Allyson Hoch, and UE Chaplain, the Rev. Brian Erickson.
Roesch will work out of the same office space at 1901 Lincoln Avenue in Evansville, formerly used by Kristel Riffert, who served as UE Catholic cam-pus minister until her departure for a ministry position in Pennsylvania last fall.
Two ‘newish’ youth ministers in the diocese
“We have two new (or “new-ish”) full-time Youth Ministers in the diocese!” according to Steve Dabrowski. “Both are great additions to Team OYAYA (Office of Youth and Young Adult ministry).
Abraham Brown started at Nativity Church, Evansville, in November. In just a few short months, he has created several vibrant programs, and his youth group has grown each week, according to Dabrowski.
In addition, Brown “has had great success in reaching out to Hispanic youth—a huge need in the diocese.”
Jen Blackstone started her duties in February at Sts. Peter and Paul in Haubstadt, St. James in Haubstadt, Holy Cross in Fort Branch and St. Bernard in Snake Run.
Father Tony Ernst and Father Gary Kaiser “are confident that Jen Blackstone will build a strong youth ministry program among four parishes in Gibson County . . . and having met her, I could not agree more!” Dabrowski said.